CHAPTER 2
The Bustling Forest
The arts of magic are passed down from generation to generation. Thus, their machinations are inevitably tied to the ideas and secrets of the family that stewards them. From parent to child and so on—mage family lines may branch but are never broken. While it is not as simple as saying “the older, the better” in regards to family lines, houses with longer histories command a fair amount of respect and fear. That history represents years of refinement—countless successes and failures. A staggeringly large amount of trial and error over a similarly vast amount of time results in these houses’ characteristic abilities.
The Salvadori family is one of these mage houses, with a distinguished history not seen in many others. Its beginnings can be traced back to even before the establishment of the Great Calendar, when the relationship between humans and demi-humans wasn’t as strained. As if proof of this, pure-blooded succubi—the progenitor of the Salvadori line—are now considered extinct.
“A great number of creatures’ seeds are going to mix together in here—like something cooking in a cauldron.”
She stroked her abdomen with a white fingertip. Ophelia spoke of the destiny her family had bestowed upon her. On the other side of the table, listening to her speech, sat a slightly older teen—Carlos Whitrow.
“Apparently, succubi were originally extremely amenable to mating with other species,” Ophelia continued. “If anything caught their fancy, they’d seduce in their target, forcibly extract their seed, and pass on the unique properties to their children. This was the survival strategy they chose.”
Her voice was steady, but Carlos could sense her searching their expression. Her words were clearly meant to incite a reaction for her to judge.
“But if you ask whether this was the correct decision, then it seems it wasn’t. All that lovely seed died along with the succubi when they went extinct. My mother claimed they confused their methods with their goals. At some point, the succubi needed to decide on a clear direction. Ironic, considering seeking direction is exactly why they spread their legs for every able-bodied male… Heh.”
The sound of her own chuckling interrupted her. It pained Carlos to see her laughing so heartily at her own flesh and blood. What terrible orders had she accepted without complaint from her family that led her to such pitiful self-derision?
“Funny, isn’t it? They got so full of themselves, snagging every man in sight, only to end up dying as harlots no one would dare get involved with.”
“……”
Carlos searched for the right words but was unable to find them. There were many things they’d like to say. They’d love to tell her that’s not true until their voice gave out. But no matter what they said now, they knew it would fall on deaf ears. Ophelia cocked her head quizzically as Carlos suffered in silence. Slight hesitation appeared on her face, as if surprised by this reaction, but she soon wiped it away and continued speaking.
“And yet—wouldn’t our ancestors be shocked to see us Salvadoris now?”
Her lips cracked into a smile, and she scanned her surroundings. Strange groans filled the dim room as countless grotesque creatures crawled about.
“……”
Carlos could never allow so much as a grimace to surface on their face. That was the rule they’d decided on upon being shown to this room—for some of the twisted creatures residing here had been birthed by Ophelia herself.
“Or would they berate us, I wonder, for giving birth countless times not in search of a new hybrid, rather than for survival? Would it disgust them to see their descendants, looking like so much genetic tossed salad…?”
Slowly, ever so slowly, his consciousness rose out of the sweet honeypot.
“Ungh…”
It was hard to breathe; he hated waking with every fiber of his being. His whole body felt sluggish as it rejected moving even a single finger, yet so unpleasant that he couldn’t stay asleep even a second longer.
“……Hah…ah…!”
Pete thrust his hands against the disgustingly warm floor and slowly lifted himself up. His vision was blurry. He instinctively raised a hand to his face to find his glasses were gone. Panicking, he searched his robe and fortunately found his spare. Putting them on made his vision clearer, but at the same time, the overwhelming intensity of the sight before him devastated his mind.
“—?!”
The floor beneath his hand was pulsating strangely, and the unique elasticity of living flesh pushed back against his palm. The walls were of similar construction, while in front was what appeared to be iron bars—on closer inspection, these actually grew out of the floor.
A prison of flesh. That was the only way to describe this place.
“…Wh-where am I…?”
As the fog in his mind cleared, his memories slowly returned. He recalled descending into the labyrinth with his friends, watching the duel between them and their classmates, being completely enthralled by Oliver’s seemingly endless bag of sword tricks—and the appearance of those magical beasts the moment the duel was finished, disrupting their brief respite.
“Did everyone get captured…?”
He looked around the cell and saw a large number of students in the exact same situation. There were over ten of them, mostly first- and second-years. From their snoring, he could tell they were alive, but none seemed close to waking. He realized that must have been him a few moments ago. He reached out cautiously toward one to try and wake them when all of a sudden, he heard footsteps.
“…!”
He dropped to the floor and tried his hardest to feign sleep. There was no deep reasoning behind it. It simply seemed, on an instinctual level, that being the only one awake was dangerous.
The footsteps from outside the cell soon approached him. He could feel someone—or something—staring down at him, but he was too scared to even try and catch a peek. He funneled all his efforts into appearing unconscious when he heard a whisper:
“…All sound asleep. Be good little boys now and stay that way. If you never wake, it’ll all just be a bad dream.”
Pete nearly screamed, but he somehow managed to contain himself. He could never forget that voice. It belonged to an older student he’d met during the academy’s “encroachment” phase with Oliver and Chela that night not long after the entrance ceremony.
“……”
After a while, the person’s footsteps faded into the distance. But Pete remained still for a long time before carefully getting up. One wrong move and he was dead. He might not understand the situation he was in, but his instincts understood this at least.
Suppressing the urge to fall into despair, he desperately thought—how could he increase his chances of survival? What actions would allow him to return to the surface alive?
The labyrinth’s first layer was unusually empty. They’d walked for over an hour along the path but run into no other students. President Godfrey’s imposition of martial law seemed to be effective.
“……”
For Oliver, the silence reinforced how abnormal the present situation was, if even a place as dangerous as Kimberly could end up like this.
“Let me tell you a few things while I still have the chance.”
Miligan, their lead on this rescue mission, suddenly broke the silence. The three friends listened intently to the witch’s next words.
“First, Ophelia Salvadori outclasses me. Even a conservative estimate would put her at double my ability. Consider it a guaranteed loss if we go at her head-on.”
This first fact alone was enough to chill Oliver’s spine. Their near-deadly battle with the Snake-Eyed Witch was still fresh in his memory. They’d nabbed victory by a hairbreadth, but it was clear that Miligan had been toying with them the entire time. She was much more powerful, and if she’d used her full strength, Oliver and his friends would have never stood a chance. And now this fearsome witch was telling them she was guaranteed to lose to Ophelia Salvadori.
“Thus, what we should be thinking about is how we can rescue Pete without being discovered. Everyone fine with that?”
“…No objections here,” Chela replied. “Do you have any idea where Pete’s being held?”
“In her workshop. I’m almost certain of it. I’ve also got a good idea of what she’s going to use him for, too.”
“What’s happened to our friend?!” Chela cried.
Miligan put a hand to her chin pensively. “I suspect she’s draining him of his vitality. She won’t be going for his sperm itself but the mana attributed to his male sex. Ophelia requires this for her rituals. Normally she’d obtain it through intercourse, but in this case, she’s after so much of it that she kidnapped a bunch of younger students to speed up the process.”
“…Does this ‘process’ involve pain?” Chela asked.
“Nope. She’ll put her captives to sleep in order to keep them from struggling, so it shouldn’t be especially painful. They might experience some nightmares, though,” the witch stated quite matter-of-factly, although that was due more to indifference than any attempt to console Chela.
Oliver frowned. This line of thinking had to be more of a fourth-year thing.
“However, every day that passes makes the captives weaker. Obviously, since their vitality’s being drained. Whether she plans to drain Pete completely, however, I can’t say for sure. You’d have to ask her yourself.”
Miligan went quiet again.
Suddenly, Chela’s expression changed.
“Hold on… She’s extracting his male mana?” the ringleted girl repeated back, then looked at Oliver next to her. He nodded in understanding. “Oliver…!”
“Yeah…this could be bad.”
“…Hmm? What are we panicking about?” Confused, Miligan cocked her head.
Oliver debated whether or not to explain, but Nanao beat him to the punch.
“Pete recently awakened as a reversi.”
“Nanao?!”
He stared at her in disbelief, but Nanao quietly shook her head. “If we are to be partners on this expedition, then it is not something we should hide. Our past quarrels aside—are we not all brothers and sisters in this quest into the depths of hell?”
She looked at him so earnestly that the words died in Oliver’s throat. Her ability to accept people as enemies or allies at a moment’s notice was astounding, most likely another quality forged on the battlefield.
Finally grasping the situation, the Snake-Eyed Witch grinned. “Yes, it would be helpful if we could not keep any secrets. So…a reversi. That’s quite a rare phenomenon. And with such…perfect timing, too.”
Oliver and Chela were in total agreement here. It was a catastrophic mismatch. Pete’s sex could change between male and female almost daily, ruining any chance Ophelia had of peacefully extracting the male mana she so desired.
“Unfortunately, that’s just another reason we need to hurry. Normally, that would make him a rare specimen, giving reason to extend his life. But with Ophelia consumed by the spell, she’ll only see a reversi as a hindrance to her ritual. If she finds out, his life will definitely be on a shorter clock.”
“All the more reason to make haste!” Chela’s pace quickened with panic.
However, Miligan gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Not too much haste, Ms. McFarlane. Ophelia’s workshop is somewhere on the third layer. You haven’t forgotten, have you? In order to get there, we must first traverse the second layer.”
Her tone was ice-cold, and Chela stopped in her tracks. Oliver nodded heavily, too. She was right. Speed was not the highest priority; first, they needed to figure out how to reach Pete alive.
“Go out there unprepared and you’ll wind up dead in an instant. You three have only experienced the entrance to the labyrinth. I promise we’ll go as quickly as possible, so just listen to your elder’s advice, okay?”
“…Understood. Forgive me. I lost my cool.” Mollified, Chela apologized.
Miligan smiled and returned her gaze to the path ahead. “Good girl. And look, we’re almost to your secret base.”
Without realizing it, they’d set foot on familiar ground. They headed for the door hidden in the wall, spoke the password, and entered the workshop in which the six friends had once spent the night. The party of four passed through the empty living room into the spacious common room next door.
“Marco…! You’re okay!”
The moment they opened the door, they spotted a large figure curled up in the corner; Oliver couldn’t help crying out his name.
Marco stirred from his slumber, raising his head.
“Unh—Oliver. I okay. Where Katie?”
“She’s okay, too! I’m sorry for leaving you behind!”
Marco’s first thoughts were for Katie’s safety, so Oliver ran over and brought him up to speed. Miligan, entering the room behind them, let out a low whistle.
“Well, isn’t this a good omen. Marco, did the chimera not go after you?”
“Unh. They no chase me,” Marco responded as he backed up against the wall. He watched her with fear and alarm; it was no wonder, considering what she’d done to him. Miligan, however, didn’t seem to care about this at all and nodded.
“That backs up my hypothesis,” Miligan said. “The chimeras weren’t going berserk—they were acting on Ophelia’s orders. She’s still capable of some reason, at least for now.”
Chela’s expression brightened a tiny bit. Although it provided only a temporary peace of mind, this was the first bit of good news they’d received so far.
“Even if she discovers he’s a reversi, Ophelia has no reason to actively try to kill Pete. He’s a first-year—hardly anyone she needs to worry about. If she still has her wits about her, she can simply put him to sleep. If she kills him, it will mean that she’s on the verge of losing it entirely.”
“…So we have a little bit of time?”
“By my best guess, yeah. This is just based on my experience going to school with her for the past four years, but Ophelia has amazing self-control. Even if she is on the brink of being consumed by the spell, she won’t lose her mind so easily. I have faith in that.”
Miligan stated this quite plainly. Ophelia Salvadori was just a monstrous older student to the three friends, but to Miligan, she was a classmate of four years. You pick up on a few things over such a long period of time.
“The first-years I’m more worried about are you three. Even with my help, I don’t know if you can make it to the third layer in one piece.”
Miligan’s expression was oddly serious. She returned to the living room and began picking up supplies. The three first-years took her cue to resume their advance; they couldn’t afford to sit back and relax here. They hurriedly portioned out some rations for Marco to eat.
“We’ll come back for you in a few days,” said Oliver. “I’m sorry, Marco, but please stay inside the workshop until then. We don’t know what kind of danger lies outside.”
“Okay. Oliver, Nanao, Chela…be safe.”
He gave each of them a big handshake. Promising to meet again soon, the three of them left the secret base with Miligan. One day, the Sword Roses would be reunited.
“Mm?”
They began walking through the labyrinth, and as they approached the entrance to the second layer, Miligan sensed something and stopped. Oliver and the girls noticed it a second later—the presence of something strange from within the depths of the path ahead. Whatever it was, it was larger than any human and was blocking their way.
“Our first hurdle. So this is the thing that had you all running for your lives?”
“…!”
They proceeded ahead, athames drawn and ready, until they finally saw it: a giant mass over twenty feet high and densely covered in wriggling tentacles. Chela swallowed audibly. There was no way to tell if it was the exact same one from that night, but it was definitely a chimera like the one that had abducted Albright, Willock, and Pete before their very eyes.
Miligan strode forward, not bothering to stay out of sight, and the chimera quickly took notice of their party. The Snake-Eyed Witch squared off with the beast from about fifteen yards apart.
“You made the right choice, retreating,” said Miligan. “If you’d tried to take on one of Ophelia’s chimera without a plan, you’d all be her captives right now, too. You’d have to be at least a third-year in order to take down one of these.”
The witch approved of their decision. Oliver and Chela recalled the moment Pete was kidnapped, and their hearts ached in union. That night, they had been powerless against this magical beast.
“But if we don’t push through this monster, we can’t save Pete. This won’t be easy. So what do you think we should do?” Miligan asked as she took a step forward. Not a shred of fear or hesitation emanated from her as she faced down the beast. “The answer’s simple—watch and learn.”
She leaped toward the beast, its tentacles rushing to meet her. Oliver swallowed. How was she planning on dealing with that many tentacles at close range?
“Deformatio!”
She chanted a spell, and rays of light burst from her athame, striking the ground in multiple places. Instantly, the stone floor rose up, as if being shaped by an invisible hand; the result was a wobbling lump of stone about the size of a human. Its center of gravity was low, allowing it to tilt but never topple over—a roly-poly toy.
“Lesson one: These things are practically blind!”
As Miligan shouted, a tentacle shot out and grabbed the decoy. The first-years gawked—the roly-poly was actually throwing the beast off. Miligan ignored their shock and continued.
“Those tentacles are just like bangs: They make it hard to see—okay, I’m kidding. The simple answer is, it’s not capable of both seeing well and controlling all those tentacles. It’s something you’ll learn eventually in magical biology: The nervous system has its limits,” she explained with unwavering conviction. “ Deformatio! ”
The newly formed decoys differed in size and shape; she was gauging the beast’s reaction.
“So if it’s not using vision, then what sense is it using to try and capture us? Touch is out of the question, since it would have to come in contact with us first. So let’s test its hearing and thermal detection. In other words, vibrations and heat—all I have to do is disturb these elements with any old spell. Flammumna! ”
She added another spell—a practical application of a fire spell in pillar form. It continued to burn in the location it was cast and mixed together with the other decoys; the floor surrounding Miligan burned red. The tentacles began writhing even more chaotically.
“Bingo. So seventy percent vibration, thirty percent heat. And about ninety percent of how it assesses the outside world is with the sensory organs in the tentacles covering its body. It can sense mana, too, of course, but it doesn’t have the accuracy to extrapolate a moving human’s location. We can ignore it.”
Completely overwhelmed by the multiple decoys and flame pillars, the beast’s tentacles failed to find its prey. This seemed to support Miligan’s claims. If it had good eyesight, it wouldn’t be struggling so hard to distinguish between the decoys and the humans.
“Lesson two: The golden rule of facing large magical beasts is to never stand in front of them. If it attacked with all its tentacles at once, even I wouldn’t be able to defend myself. So keep moving. Don’t stop for even a second; scatter your opponent’s focus. This is where magical decoys are really useful!”
Miligan continued flitting about, never stopping. Oliver kept his eyes as wide as possible, so as not to miss a single moment. Her phantasmagoric footwork, a combination of control over her center of gravity and territory magic, must have made her seem like mist to the poor-sighted beast.
“One or two tentacles are no threat. In fact, those attacks are your chance to counter and weaken your opponent. You must never rush the battle—a larger magical beast’s stamina is fundamentally different from ours. Get your hits in where you can, and only go for the kill once it’s significantly weakened. Impetus! ”
She weaved in a spell among her risky dodging, carving out a chunk from the chimera’s body. With its tentacles distracted by her multiple decoys, its main body was wide open. The giant creature, which had withstood even Chela’s double incantation when protected by its tentacles, winced as Miligan’s wind blade sliced into it.
“That said, we don’t have unlimited time. A louder fight will draw the attention of other beasts, if this thing’s not already summoning its friends. The tides might turn if another one shows up. So lesson three: Don’t fight recklessly. Envision the steps you need to take to deal the final blow, then steadily execute your plan.”
With every lesson she imparted, the battle progressed slowly but surely. Just a few more weakening strikes and she’d be ready to go for the kill—or so Oliver and the girls thought, but suddenly the beast made an unexpected move. The tentacles distracted by the decoys regrouped, then shot through the air toward Miligan. The witch jumped to the side and dodged, her lips curled in a smile.
“It’s started learning. This is what’s annoying about Ophelia’s chimeras: They aren’t stupid. If you use the same strategy long enough, they’ll adapt. It’s learning to tell the difference between my decoys and me. Time to turn the tables!”
And with that announcement, Miligan switched tactics. She began walking straight toward the beast without any tricks, as if her quick and complicated movements from before were just an illusion. She was practically strolling toward the creature; Oliver’s jaw dropped to the floor.
But it didn’t matter. The beast didn’t react in the slightest to her suicidal plan. Its tentacles wandered about, as if it had once again lost sight of the prey it had previously locked on to.
“Sorry, you’re finished. Tonitrus! ”
Miligan walked right up to the beast’s face and ruthlessly stabbed her athame into its exposed cranium. Simultaneously, she chanted a spell—electricity ripped through its internal organs and fried its brain. The beast convulsed, then collapsed without even a scream.
“It knew the simple movements were my decoys, and the complicated movements were me—so I turned the concept on its head.”
The Snake-Eyed Witch gazed down at the beast’s corpse, not a hair out of place. It was an incredibly dramatic end to the battle, far beyond anything Oliver had imagined.
“You made it look so easy…,” Chela muttered to herself.
Miligan spun around to face them again and grinned. “You see now, Ms. McFarlane? The fact that the tentacles covering it were resistant to electricity made it clear that its inner body was weak to electricity. Once you’ve determined your opponent’s weak point, even a single incantation is more than enough. As long as you determine the beast’s origin, that will naturally narrow down the locations of its brain and heart.”
She pointed at the giant corpse behind her. Oliver agreed. He’d had a feeling this chimera was based on a type of wingless landwyrm. One could add organs such as tentacles after the fact, but the brain and spinal cord—the species’ most fundamental parts—were not so easily modified.
“Easier said than done, of course,” Miligan continued. “Ideally, you’d break the process down into separate steps: observing the ecology, determining the weak point, and building a strategy. If the beast has already been documented, the first two steps can be achieved through studying the corresponding literature. Ophelia’s chimeras, however, are basically each a new species, which complicates things.” Miligan shrugged.
She was completely right. When they’d faced the chimeras, it was their first time seeing them, and they were overwhelmed. But now that she had broken down the facts, these chimeras were certainly not in any way superior to the garuda. All the more reason why knowing your enemy was imperative.
“I won’t tell you to replicate on your own what I did. Instead, I want you three to learn to do it together. That’s my minimum requirement before I take you to the third layer.”
““—!””
“If you can’t complete this assignment before we exit the second layer, well, I’m sorry, but your adventure ends there. Don’t worry—I’ll escort you back to the surface,” the witch gently assured them.
Repeat what she just did by the time they left the second layer? Oliver and Chela were visibly anxious at such a heavy assignment. The Azian girl spoke up, unperturbed.
“Then I shall take the third step.”
“Nanao?”
“We can do it, Oliver. Recall our battle with the garuda.”
Nanao smiled at him encouragingly. Oliver thought back to that night—although he’d had some previous knowledge, the garuda was indeed something he’d never faced before.
“That’s right—you’re garuda slayers,” said Miligan. “I may have weakened it, but that was a full-blown divine beast underling. I wouldn’t have brought you here otherwise. What about you, Ms. McFarlane? Think you have what it takes to do the same?”
Miligan turned back to face Chela, who nodded vigorously as if to shake off her worries.
“Your lesson was so detailed. It would be impossible to say no.” Her usual dignity regained, Chela rounded on the Azian girl. “And, Nanao! Quit throwing yourself into danger. The three of us will do it all together—observation, determining weakness, and building a strategy.”
“Mm, is that so? …Very well. I shall try to make use of my brain.”
Nanao crossed her arms as she struggled to get the gears turning.
Oliver grinned. It would seem she’d chosen the dangerous job not out of a sense of duty but simply to avoid a role that required thinking.
“…We’ll definitely master it. Will you teach us, Ms. Miligan?” Oliver asked, bolstered by the girls’ confidence. The corners of Miligan’s lips curved upward into a smirk.
“Sure. This is exactly why I can’t get enough of mentoring younger students!” Miligan then turned her gaze to the magical beast’s corpse. “From here on, we’ll be entering the second layer, the bustling forest. Even without Ophelia’s chimeras crawling around, it’s plenty dangerous—enough to be called a first-years’ graveyard. I’ll teach you all step-by-step. Oliver, Nanao, Chela, don’t dawdle—come with me.”
“““Yes, ma’am!”””
There was a friendlier tone to her voice, and the three of them didn’t reject it. Of course, they couldn’t just forget past events. But right now, she was an invaluable teacher who would show them how to survive in the labyrinth. They swore not to miss a single word the Snake-Eyed Witch spoke as they followed her to the next layer.
At the same time, on the second layer that the party was about to step into, in a corner of the bustling forest, thick with green trees and home to countless magical creatures…
“ Ignis! ”
“GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!”
A torrent of flames wrapped around the chimera. The waves of hot wind billowing outward spoke volumes of the intense heat it generated. It must not have dodged the single-incantation spell because of its confidence in its tough body. This was certainly not a mistake. The scale armor that covered its body should have deflected most spells—if they hadn’t been cast by this young man.
“AAH… AAH…”
Not even its dying howls lasted very long. Surrounded by incredible heat, its body quickly turned to ash. Petty things like “natural resistance” posed no trouble for the flames. When it came to pure magical output, any attempt to measure Alvin Godfrey on a normal scale was a grave error. Carlos Whitrow was reminded of this as they watched the battle.
“All the chimeras we’ve run into so far have been new breeds… Can’t let our guards down for even a second.” Godfrey sheathed his athame and sighed. The prefects had split into pairs after entering the labyrinth. So far, Carlos and Godfrey had encountered and killed six chimeras on their journey.
“I’d expect as much when Lia gets serious,” said Carlos. “It’s a scary experience for anyone to fight an unknown magical beast. Especially if you’re trying to conserve mana. Makes us seem like Gnostic Hunters.”
Sorrow colored their androgynous features. There was no one at Kimberly who knew the one behind all this trouble better than Carlos. Godfrey strode away from the chimera’s ashes, a troubled expression on his face. “In that case, I should be grateful to her. She’s providing me with valuable field experience.”
“Oh? Have you already decided what you’ll do after graduation? Seems just yesterday you were still conflicted.”
“Nothing’s set in stone. But ultimately, fighting’s the only thing I’m any good at. So as long as I’m fighting to protect someone, I can imagine myself doing the same thing even when I leave the academy,” Godfrey replied with a sigh. After five years at Kimberly, he’d learned all too well what he was and wasn’t capable of, as well as what sort of person he ought to be in this world. Considering their friend’s feelings and potential future, Carlos’s expression clouded.
“The Gnostic Hunters’ hellscape is nothing like Kimberly’s,” said Carlos. “And there’s no guarantee that you’ll find kindred spirits like you did here… Will you manage?”
“I don’t know… But if you came with me, it’d make things a lot easier.”
Godfrey muttered his true feelings under his breath; a second later, he realized his mistake and shut his mouth in embarrassment.
A kind smile appeared on his old friend’s face. “I’m sorry I can’t go with you… Maybe my worries are unfounded, though. There are lots of other people out there who would follow you anywhere,” said Carlos.
“That’s nice to hear, but whether I can trust them to have my back is another matter. I don’t want to bring anyone likely to die right away onto the battlefield.”
Godfrey’s expression was tinged with gloom. It was true that he had many allies currently. Any number of them would accompany him to the grave without hesitation if he asked. But that made it all that much harder to ask. Carlos, who understood his conflict better than anyone, nodded. “And that’s exactly why I think the Gnostic Hunters would want you so badly.”
“…I’m not so sure. I have a feeling there are plenty of sixth- and seventh-years even stronger than I am.”
“Even so, the fact of the matter is every student at the academy fears you. That includes the sixth- and seventh-year monsters.”
They stated the absolute truth matter-of-factly. But despite their valuation, something bitter rose in Godfrey’s face.
“I’d rather be loved than feared. Especially by my juniors.”
“They’re not mutually exclusive. Of course, I don’t fear you, Al.”
Carlos beamed from ear to ear; Godfrey pursed his lips and scratched the back of his head. Carlos always managed to get him with that face ever since they were first-years. The two of them continued to walk in silence for a bit, when Godfrey suddenly stopped.
“Hold on. Someone’s coming.”
They got into defensive stances. A few seconds later, the bushes in front of them shook, and someone crawled out from within—short in stature, covered in dirt and mud. Their school uniform was beyond recognition, but luckily their necktie color identified them as a sixth-year. Upon seeing Godfrey and Carlos, the sixth-year’s face lit up.
“…Oh? Ohhh? Ohhhh? Today’s my lucky day!”
“Mr. Walker?”
Godfrey was taken aback by the unexpected run-in. Kevin Walker, Kimberly Magic Academy sixth-year, aka the Survivor. He was the current president of the Labyrinth Gourmet Club and famous among the student body for returning alive after spending half a year in the labyrinth’s depths.
“Man, what luck! I figured this route might be a winner if you two were taking it! Okay, sure, it was just a hunch. But the point is, I was waiting for someone to happen by so I could give them this! …Oh, you guys hungry? I have a swamp shrimp I caught in the bog over there. Wanna have a barbecue?”
“P-please calm down,” said Godfrey.
“You were waiting for us, Kevin?” Carlos asked.
“Hmm? Ah, right, I was. Here, I wanted to give you this.”
Walker clapped his hands when he remembered his errand. He produced an old, worn notebook from his pocket and handed it to Carlos. They took it and scanned through it while Godfrey peered over their shoulder.
“This is…”
“A map of the third layer. I explored as much as I could and recorded it in there. The landscape’s really changed recently, probably thanks to Lia’s influence. Be careful. The place is crawling with chimeras like nothing I’ve ever seen,” said Walker, as if he had seen the creatures himself.
Godfrey’s jaw dropped, realizing he wasn’t being figurative. What he was saying was…
“…You went down to the third layer all alone? While all this is going on?”
“Yup. But I’ve gotta apologize—I couldn’t find her workshop. First-years were kidnapped this time around, so we need to hurry. This should help your rescue mission, so I’m sharing it with y— Oh?”
His rapid-fire speech was suddenly cut off. Carlos’s long, slender arms wrapped tightly around the sixth-year’s short frame. They didn’t seem bothered in the least by the mud and filth.
“Thank you, Kevin. Thank you…”
“Carlos…”
Godfrey was as overcome with emotion as his friend. Neither of them was being dramatic, either. Past or present, there were very few older students who would lend a helping hand. After a few moments, Walker patted Carlos’s shoulder.
“Ha-ha! What’re you saying, Carlos? A senior helps out his juniors, even without being asked. You guys believe the same, don’t you?” he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, showing his approval for their efforts.
Carlos smiled and let Walker go.
Walker spun around and said, “Anyway, I think I’ll venture down again. I got the lay of the land last time, so I should be able to search deeper now.”
“Wha—? W-wait a second. You could come with us!” said Godfrey.
“Mm, no thanks. I prefer going solo. You guys know that, right?”
He lightly waved good-bye and then shuffled into the bushes again. They tried to call out and stop him, but Walker was firm.
“I’ll be fine. I’m not gonna die in the labyrinth. Anyway, later!”
And with that, the Survivor disappeared into the darkness. Godfrey stared after him for a bit, dumbfounded, and then sighed heavily.
“…He never changes.”
“Nope. He’s always been a huge help to us ever since we were first-years.”
Carlos smiled and nodded.
Walker was something of a mentor—in the best way, with no ulterior motives to be found. As grateful as they were, Godfrey and Carlos refocused on the path ahead.
“Thanks to him, we’re a lot closer to Lia now. Let’s go, Al.”
“Yeah. Let’s hurry.”
The two friends nodded to each other, then started off again. There was still a long way to go and not much time left.
After clearing their first hurdle and entering the second layer, they stepped into a landscape beyond Oliver’s imagination.
“Take this fruit, for example. Looks delicious, right? However…”
As she lectured, the Snake-Eyed Witch reached out her left hand toward the stubby fruit tree. Suddenly, the fruit split open and snapped at her like a starving dog. Miligan quickly withdrew her hand, and the fruit tree caught only air, gnashing its teeth in search of prey.
“If you try to eat it, it’ll eat you. Losing a finger to one of these is considered your second-layer baptism. It’s one of the cuter traps out there, but if you lose your dominant hand, you won’t be able to use your wand, and that’s bad news. If you’re going to touch something unknown, take the proper precautions. If nothing else, at least make a habit of starting with your nondominant hand.”
Miligan launched into her second-layer lesson. Nanao studied the violent fruit tree, her brow furrowed.
“Mm. Then this is not edible?” she asked.
“Oh, it is. Just cast a spell to knock it out, then cut off the fruit. It’s probably eaten a bunch of students’ fingers, but if you’re fine with that, go ahead.”
“…Nanao, I’m not saying you can’t eat anything down here, but let’s at least find something less carnivorous.”
Oliver had to pull her back as she stared intently at it, and the four of them resumed walking through the forest. The verdant greenery overpowered their noses; the shadows were teeming with life big and small. Oliver and the girls moved cautiously, and Miligan sucked in a hearty breath.
“Heh-heh-heh. This is fun. The second layer is my favorite place for a stroll. The ecosystem of plants and animals is so varied that there’s always something interesting nearby. I wanna bring Katie here one day soon.”
“Just a stroll, huh…?” Chela muttered, half in disbelief and half amazed. They couldn’t bring themselves to relax like Miligan; there was no telling when they’d run into a threat.
Miligan chuckled at their nervousness. “Of course, now’s a little different. We could run into one of Ophelia’s chimeras at any time. Still, I’m comfortable enough that we can have a chat, if you like.”
“…I see. Then would you mind if I test something?” Oliver suggested, seizing on the opportunity while there was no immediate danger.
Miligan drew closer, curious, and the boy decided it would be faster to show her than explain. First, he took a seed out of his drawstring pouch and tossed it on the ground. Next, he pulled out his wand and cast a growth-enhancing spell. It sprouted and flourished before his eyes, maturing into a young tree. It grew in a curve until the tip eventually pierced the ground again, forming an arch-shaped fence in front of them.
“Ooh, a toolplant? Look at how quickly it grew. And so strong, too. You’ve got some good seed there.”
Miligan kicked at and shoved the completed fence in order to confirm her suspicions. Oliver nodded. “It’s Guy’s work. Should be useful in pinning down a magical beast during battle.”
“Mr. Greenwood did this? …Hmm, not bad. I use toolplants a lot, but this is good enough to sell. They’re quite at home in the second layer’s soil, too.”
“Heh, isn’t he the best? Guy has quite the green thumb when it comes to magical flora,” Chela boasted like a proud mother.
Miligan nodded, then turned back to Oliver. “Creativity is your greatest ally, so go ahead and experiment to your heart’s content. I can cover for most of your fails.”
“…Thanks,” Oliver said shortly, then put the pouch of toolplant seeds back into his bag. Suddenly, he felt a pull at his sleeve.
“Oliver, I’m getting hungry.”
Simultaneously, a loud growl came from Nanao’s stomach. Oliver instinctively pinched his brow.
“That much is obvious… That growling’s loud enough to attract a chimera. Ms. Miligan, I think it’s time we ate.”
“True, we’ve been hiking for about five hours. We’ve still got a long way to go, so let’s take a breather.”
Everyone agreed, and so the four of them set about finding a spot to eat. They happened upon a place surrounded by trees yet still fairly open; with magic, they cleared out the area a bit and created a rest stop. They finished it off with four impromptu chairs made from toolplants, then sat down.
“Rest well, you three. In deep dives, breaks are as important as moving. And of course, you can’t forget to get proper nutrition.”
Miligan opened the bag on her lap and took out the rations. Oliver and the girls did the same and began eating. Opening their bundles from Guy, they discovered a long, dense cake—simple and rustic.
“It’s a little early for this, but I’ll tell you anyway—starting with this layer, setting up camp has a few rules. Don’t go around just lighting fires, you hear me? That’s the fastest way to attract magical beasts. There are a few points to keep in mind.”
As they ate, Miligan lectured. Listening, Oliver cut his cake with his athame and popped a bite in his mouth. The extremely sweet sponge melted in his mouth but still maintained an enjoyable texture thanks to the walnuts and dried fruits. The strong sweetness was like a balm for his body after that long trek.
“Oliver, this is quite good.”
“…Yeah. Very good.”
“Truly delicious.”
The three friends nodded in earnest. This seemed to pique Miligan’s curiosity, so Chela traded her a bit of cake for a bite of her ration. The witch’s eyes flew open the moment she bit into it.
“What is this? No fair, keeping such a treat a secret from me!”
As Miligan sang the cake’s praises, Chela was as proud of her friend’s success as if it were her own. Oliver watched the girls peacefully enjoying their meal—but his mind was focused elsewhere.
(…You’re there, aren’t you, Ms. Carste?)
He spoke not with his voice but with a micro-frequency of mana. He was careful to keep his output as low as possible, so as not to alert the others. But even if they did pick up on it, it would be impossible for them to recognize it as words without the predetermined cypher.
(…I am here. I would be by your side, but I cannot risk being noticed by Snake-Eye.)
Instantly, a reply came via the same method from behind—most likely from atop the trees. On the outside, Oliver appeared to be chatting pleasantly and resting, but underneath it all, he continued his conversation with Teresa Carste, master of invisibility.
(That’s fine. Do you know how deep Brother and Sister are?)
(I met them on the first layer about eight hours ago. They must be ahead of us in the second layer by now. I have also spotted some of our allies and other older students.)
Oliver nodded mentally. He had no doubt that President Godfrey and a host of other upperclassmen were trying to contain the situation. It was reassuring to hear, but at the same time, running into any of them would prove problematic, considering they were first-years.
(I should tell you—I have been ordered to bring you back to the academy immediately upon locating you in the labyrinth.)
Oliver fell silent, then responded, trying to suss her out. (…Why aren’t you doing that?)
(After the coronation, you became my liege in name and substance. It’s only natural that I prioritize your desires over orders from Ms. Shannon and Mr. Gwyn.)
Teresa answered without hesitation, and Oliver was slightly taken aback by her position. She seemed quite serious about her role as his direct subordinate. Apparently, he needn’t have worried about trying to turn her to his side.
(More importantly, Darius Grenville’s substitute is bound to appear soon. Considering how troublesome those monsters will be, it serves no purpose to hesitate in facing someone like the Salvadori Harlot. In fact, this is a good chance to test our strength. Don’t you agree, my liege?)
Her words struck Oliver’s back harder than any whip. She was right—his true targets far outclassed Ophelia. Normal training methods were never going to make him their equal. In that sense, he ought to welcome this situation as an opportunity to grow stronger. It was good to reconfirm how reliable a subordinate Teresa was. So Oliver suggested a plan.
(Would your invisibility prove useful against Ophelia Salvadori’s chimeras or against the witch herself?)
(From a certain distance, I can remain undetected without issue if I am alone. Should you require it, I can also act as a scout.)
(That’d be helpful. If you find anything dangerous in our path, let me know. But absolutely do not put yourself at risk.)
(Yes, my liege!)
Her reply was jubilant, and her innocence tugged at Oliver’s heartstrings. He knew he was sending her on a suicide mission.
(Worry not, my liege. A lord should use his followers to their fullest effect. I am at your disposal.)
Teresa piped up, as if sensing his trepidation through the mana frequency. This made him feel guiltier, but Oliver swallowed his emotions and sent back a simple (do it.)
(There is…one other thing as well.)
Teresa offered a quiet addendum. The next moment, the frequency jumped in intensity despite her fine control over it earlier.
(I have always spoken in this manner. In a prior meeting, you suggested it might be forced. But it’s not. I swear it!) Teresa stubbornly insisted, shouting so loudly that her voice practically rang in Oliver’s ears. He was surprised, even more so when Nanao jumped up.
“? What is it, Nanao?”
“Someone is here.”
She stared intently at the trees, her sharp senses apparently picking up on the ripples of mana. Oliver panicked but was also slightly relieved. A slipup like that was proof that Teresa was still a kid on the inside.
“Maybe we’re being watched by a magical beast. It’s not wise to stay in one spot for too long. We should move on, Ms. Miligan,” Oliver commented, trying to create a diversion. He then got to his feet.
“Good idea,” Miligan said with a nod. “Let’s keep going.”
They walked for another two hours through the forest before stumbling upon a completely different sight.
“Now, this is a bit of a predicament.”
“Wow…”
Oliver couldn’t immediately identify what he was looking up at—it was an extremely large tree. It was impossible to tell where the trunk ended and the branches began or even what was a root. It all wrapped and twisted together, with some limbs stretching into the air and sprouting leaves while others stuck into the ground, supporting the main body. Even at its thinnest point, the tree easily reached a diameter of ten yards.
“This is an irminsul, the gateway to the second layer of the labyrinth. In the surface world, it’s a critically endangered species. Take a good look.”
Miligan stroked the nearby bark as she explained.
“It’s said that these trees will only sprout atop behemoth corpses. In ancient times, the earth was covered in these things—it’s fascinating to think about. Oh, and here’s our welcome party.”
She looked up. Creatures with bony wings, long tails, and large beaks circled above the four of them, their shrill cries echoing endlessly.
“Those are small bird wyverns. Smart little rascals—they change their hunting patterns based on their prey. They’ll wait for stronger prey to die, then scavenge the remains. But if the creature looks weak, the flock will attack as one. They eat everything, even bones, which is why they’re nicknamed ‘irminsul janitors.’ Instructor Hedges wants a sky burial, right? He should ask these things to eat him,” Miligan joked, then stepped on a giant branch and began walking atop it. Oliver and the girls followed her lead. The branch was like a road, cutting and snaking through the sky. The group proceeded cautiously as the wyverns above kept a close eye on them.
“…Are they going to be watching us until we get past this tree?” Chela asked.
“Probably. But it’s not all bad news. Their flight pattern will change if a large magical beast is nearby. Just think of them as watchdogs.”
Miligan seemed unfazed, but Oliver and the girls had never been here before, and they consequently couldn’t be nearly as bold. The wyverns above them took a lot of their attention, but they could also sense countless presences hiding above the tangled branches. There was no telling where an attack could come from.
“There is technically a detour around this tree. And it’s a bit safer, too. But it’d take a whole day to—”
“Then we go this way.”
“Yes, every second is precious.”
Nanao and Chela instantly replied.
Oliver nodded as well, looking at Miligan ahead of them.
“Guess I needn’t have brought it up,” she said. “All right, let’s climb. Follow me!”
And so they began what was more like ascending a mountain than a tree. Keeping their eyes on their destination, they climbed from branch to branch. When the next branch was either too far or too high, they used their brooms, but Miligan insisted that they walk the majority of the time. According to her, attempting to ease the journey and fly when they didn’t understand the geography or ecosystem was a recipe for disaster.
“’Tis quite a rough path, I must say.”
“You can try to clean it up, but it’ll be overgrown in no time. Careful not to trip.”
“…I should have asked earlier, but how is there a sun here?” Chela said, peering up at the rays of light shining down from above as they ascended the steep branches.
Miligan answered as she cleared ivy from the path ahead. “It’s a pre–Great Calendar legacy. Basically impossible to replicate the spell nowadays. Same goes for this labyrinth, really. That said, it’s been nearly fully analyzed, and we now know that the source of its mana is on a deeper layer. Not even I know what the source is, though.”
Oliver squinted and looked up at the artificial sun as he listened. A lot of magical techniques had been lost over time, and re-creating them was a great headache for modern-day mages. It was for this reason that reverse engineering was such a revered part of magical engineering. It was important they retrieved that ancient knowledge.
“Unlike on the surface, that sun never sets. And for plants, which don’t need to sleep, this place is a paradise. It even rains periodically.”
“…So it’s a biotope? I can only imagine this environment was created by humans for the pursuit of magical biology studies,” said Chela.
“If you want to know that, you’ll have to study labyrinthology. As for the reason the labyrinth was created, well, we still don’t have a clear answer to that,” Miligan explained.
The conversation died off as the four of them hurried on. The path never leveled out, and the extreme hills and valleys sapped their strength.
“Hup…!”
It was the right decision not to bring Katie and Guy, Oliver thought as he cast Grave Step to create a foothold in order to jump to the next branch. Getting through this terrain required a certain level of footwork, and currently, even with a guide, those two would never have been able to keep up.
“…Hmm. They’ve gotten pretty close,” Miligan muttered, slowing down. Oliver, taken aback, scanned their surroundings and saw countless eyes glittering behind every possible branch. Chela swallowed audibly. He’d sensed their presence but had no idea they’d grown in number.
“Ms. Miligan…”
“Don’t draw. You’ll agitate them. Just be ready to draw at a moment’s notice,” Miligan replied evenly, urging her juniors to remain calm. “A party of four has a fifty percent chance of passing through here without incident. It depends on how hungry these things are. And if it’s mating season, they could attack without provocation. Luckily for us, they don’t seem to be that on edge today.”
“…They won’t rely on numbers to attack, then?” Chela asked.
“It’s happened in the past, and it turned out badly for them. They’re scared of mages. And they have no way of knowing that three of us are only first-years.”
Miligan’s aim was to ease Chela’s concerns, but Oliver’s blood ran cold. That meant it was highly unusual for three first-years to be this far down in the labyrinth.
“The same can’t be said for what’s up ahead, though. Here comes the boss.”
Miligan stopped. Her eyes were focused on a section of tree where dozens of branches much like the ones they’d traversed twisted and fused together, forming a large island in the shape of a basin. The “ground” was covered in thick soil, as if a pile of fallen leaves had been turned into mulch. And in the center of the island was a nest made from branches the size of trees. From within that nest, a massive shadow emerged, shaking the trees with every step it took.
“—!”
“…?!”
“Hoh.”
“Stand your ground. Look straight at it. Don’t show any fear. This is the boss of the irminsul’s western face.”
Miligan squared off against the approaching giant ape. It was easily three to five times their size, towering at over fifteen feet tall. Its entire body was covered with black fur, save for its face; its arms were slender and long compared to its legs and torso; it seemed capable of walking on two feet, but at present, it approached them on all fours. Oliver knew of many species of demon apes that lived in trees, but none that was this large. Perhaps it was a species unique to irminsuls.
“What’s the matter, West? Why so on edge? You were never the type to bother with groups of people passing by,” Miligan asked the beast calmly as she analyzed it from head to toe. It was missing patches of fur all over and had suffered a number of lacerations in its hide, reddish-black muscle peeking out from within. Upon more careful inspection, it was harder not to find a section of its body that wasn’t wounded. It was even missing two whole fingers on its right hand.
“…Injured, huh? I see. Been in a scuffle with Ophelia’s chimeras, have you?”
Miligan traced the origin of the injuries with just a glance. The demon ape bared its fangs at her and hissed menacingly. Oliver’s hand shot to the athame at his waist. Unlike the creatures they’d encountered so far, this ape was clearly riled up.
“We mean you no harm, but it doesn’t seem you’re in the mood to listen… Oh well.”
Miligan had sensed on this as well and was forced to give up on trying to pass by peacefully. Still ready to battle with the ape, she lifted the bangs that covered her left eye. The moment it spotted the basilisk eye, the ape’s fur stood on end.
“So you won’t back off even after seeing my eye. That means we have to fight—get ready, you three!” she barked and drew her athame. The intense staring contest continued, but the ape showed no sign of backing down. Seeing there was no avoiding combat, Oliver and Chela reached toward their waists.
“Wait a moment, Ms. Miligan.”
A soft voice cooled their heads. The Azian girl stepped toward the demon ape, and Miligan’s eyes bulged out of their sockets.
“…Nanao?”
“’Tis too early to draw. We have not paid our respects yet.”
And immediately, Nanao got onto her knees. She removed her sword from her waist and placed it on the ground, facing the demon ape unarmed. Her back was straight as an arrow, and her three companions couldn’t help but gape.
“We are in the middle of a journey to rescue a friend. Time is of the essence, and so we must rudely cut through your domain.”
She spoke softly, remaining in position. After staring into her eyes for a few seconds, the ape suddenly leaned forward and brought its face closer to hers—close enough to bite her head off. It sniffed.
“Nanao…!”
“Wait, Chela!”
Chela, unable to watch, tried to draw her athame, but Oliver instinctively stopped her. Something was different. The situation appeared as dangerous as danger got, but the aggression the ape had displayed moments earlier had subsided.
“It is not my wish to open our path through violence. Will you grant us passage?”
Nanao expressed her desire directly, never breaking eye contact. Silence fell between the girl and the ape—until eventually, the ape slowly turned around. As her friends watched on, amazed, the demon ape returned to its nest, its back to them.
“…It withdrew…,” Oliver said incredulously.
“Goodness… What trick did you use, Nanao?” Miligan excitedly asked, peering at the girl’s face.
Nanao retied her sword to her waist, stood up, and replied. “According to Katie, most beast-like magical creatures determine an opponent’s intentions from their mana and smell—things you and I emit unconsciously. The properties change based on our emotions. Thus, if one wishes to express that one is not a threat to such creatures, one must relax and face them with a still heart. The more excited they are, the calmer you must be—or so she claims.”
She smiled as she said her friend’s name. Chela crossed her arms and considered the surprising method.
“…Face them with a still heart, you say? I can see the logic, but… That’s easier said than done against such a fierce creature…”
“But it makes sense,” Oliver agreed. “The beast was injured and agitated, which is exactly why it’d want to avoid any unnecessary conflict. What you needed to convey was that you weren’t a threat. I swear, you and Katie continue to surprise me.”
He recalled the toolplant seeds he’d received from Guy. Even though they hadn’t come along, Katie and Guy had still saved their butts. The entire group was working together to rescue Pete.
“…The Sword Roses, huh?” Oliver whispered.
Chela smiled next to him, and he grinned awkwardly. She was definitely thinking the same thing.
Miligan, after hearing Nanao’s explanation, nodded vigorously. “Truly fascinating,” she said. “In any case, we’re lucky to avoid that fight. Now, let’s hurry. Once we’re through here, we still have to descend.”
Miligan pointed ahead. The first-years followed her lead and resumed walking, but as soon as they were past the demon ape’s nest, Oliver noticed a change above them.
“Ms. Miligan—the wyverns.”
Their loyal followers had broken off and were now flying in a different direction. As the group looked up, they heard a loud sound behind them. They all jumped and turned around to see the demon ape from earlier bounding out of its nest. They tensed for battle, but the ape shot past them without a second glance.
“The boss ran away. Something’s up over there.”
Sensing something was amiss, Miligan took off. The three friends followed her when suddenly Oliver received a message via his secret mana frequency.
(Please be careful, my liege. A chimera is ahead!)
Oliver’s face stiffened at Teresa’s warning. Twenty more seconds of running and the path turned into a downward slope—and then he saw what she had warned him about.
Directly in their path, on a branch not far from the tree island, were two magical beasts locked in combat. On one side was the demon ape. On the other was a giant chimera about twice its size, a combination of half praying mantis, half beetle. Its two arms were giant scythes, and rows of segmented legs scuttled underneath its abdomen. On its thorax were multiple mounds of sharp needles. The demon ape howled and attacked, but the chimera held its ground.
“…A chimera is fighting with that ape…!” said Oliver.
“No wonder, when it looks like that and steps into the ape’s territory.”
Hiding in the twisted branches so as not to be spotted, the four of them watched the battle play out. The ape was fast despite its size, but for some reason, every time it got close to the chimera, a cloud of blood sprayed from its body. It hadn’t been hit by the scythes, so how? Oliver’s eyes and ears soon found the answer. Needles were sticking out of the ape’s body. The chimera launched the needles on its thorax with alarming speed and an explosive noise.
Every time the ape approached, it got hit by another needle attack. And, unable to get close, the ape found its wounds growing more and more critical. On top of this, it was already injured, so the battle didn’t last long. The ape sank to its knees after losing too much blood, and the chimera mercilessly brought down its scythe. With one blow, it decapitated the helpless irminsul ape.
“The western boss is dead, huh? I guess it was inevitable, considering it was injured, but this is trouble,” Miligan muttered as she witnessed the conclusion of the fight. Oliver knew the meaning of what came next without her having to say it and swallowed hard.
“Killing the previous boss means this area is now that chimera’s territory. And it’s standing right in our way. We could technically withdraw and take a detour, but we’d have to be prepared for an attack on even worse footing… So what do we do?” Miligan turned to her juniors and asked. The three of them looked at one another for a second, then nodded in unison. If they were likely to fight anyway, it would be better to take a stand here than out on the branches where footing was poor. They were close enough to the “island” that they could lure the chimera there.
“I needn’t have asked. Okay, have at it. I’ll be the backup this time. You three defeat that chimera.” Miligan nodded and took a step back, eyes glittering with expectation. She then added a piece of advice. “I’m sure you’ve already observed it, but this chimera is quite different from the one at the entrance to the second layer. This one’s been designed to kill. Its strength and tactics differ totally—but most of all, if you lose, you die. Keep that in mind.”
He was aware of this fact, but hearing it said out loud made the truth resonate deeply in Oliver’s chest. His legs felt like they were about to give way, but he forced himself to stand and glared at their soon-to-be opponent.
“…It still hasn’t noticed us. Should we continue observing it from a distance?” Chela asked.
“No. We’ve seen its body construction and witnessed it fight with another creature. As pressed for time as we are, we can’t hope to gather much more information.”
Oliver gave up on the idea and turned on his heel, heading for the island. Fortunately, it wasn’t just spacious but was also covered in soil. Lucky for us, he thought as he looked down at the mulch underfoot.
“It’s time to fight, you guys. We’re gonna defeat that chimera.”
He retrieved the toolplant seeds from his bag and spread them around the island.
“Brogoroccio!”
He cast a spell on the seeds, and one after the other, they began to sprout: In each spot, three trees grew to form short walls. Not only would these give them cover, but they would also help to slow down the large chimera. They weren’t the sturdiest things, but it was better than nothing.
“…Everyone ready?” He turned and shouted, to which Nanao and Chela nodded sharply. Oliver raised his athame in the air.
“Fragor!”
A flash of light exploded above his head, signaling the beginning of the fight. The chimera, which was gorging itself on the ape’s corpse, raised its insectoid head and immediately made a beeline for the island.
“Have at thee!”
Nanao stood in the center of the island, ready to receive it. The chimera struck first, swinging a scythe down at her. She dodged it by a hair, and Oliver shouted a warning:
“Here come those needles!”
As he’d anticipated, the chimera ejected its front-facing needles in response to Nanao’s evasion. They were about eight inches long and seemed to be propelled by high-pressure gas. The needles flew so quickly that even the trio’s magically reinforced robes couldn’t protect them. A direct hit would mean at best a grievous wound and at worst lethal damage.
“Hah…!”
Nanao hid behind one of the plant walls; the needles struck it and remained buried inside, just as they’d hoped. Oliver let out a low, self-congratulatory “yes!” Nanao could probably deflect the needles with her sword, but as the fight was likely to drag on, there was far less risk of getting shot doing things this way.
“That’s good! Don’t rush it, Nanao!”
“Understood!” Nanao shouted back, then darted out from her cover. The chimera, its scythe poised to crush the wall, changed targets to Nanao and swung at her. She jumped to the side again, but this time there was no needle follow-up attack. It needed to recharge the gas inside its body before it could fire a second volley. Everything was just as they’d observed in its fight with the demon ape.
“Impetus!”
“Fragor!”
Oliver and Chela simultaneously cast offensive spells. Based on the chimera’s construction, they deduced that its weak points would be focused on its upper half. Unfortunately, their spells bounced off it without any damage.
“Quite a tough body it’s got…!”
“No surprise there! Tear off the exoskeleton and aim for its ganglion!”
Just as predicted, single-incantation spells had no effect on its outer shell. They quickly started casting their next spells, and the chimera turned its menacing glare toward them. But its attention was drawn to the ground, and the Azian girl made sure to take advantage of this opening.
“Your leg is mine!”
Nanao instantly dashed toward its feet and swung at the segmented insect leg before her. She severed the chimera’s limb in half, and it fell to the ground.
“I knew you could do it, Nanao!”
“Mm!”
But one severed leg wasn’t enough to destabilize the chimera. Unperturbed, it rained needles down from its giant body. Nanao once again dived behind a wall, narrowly escaping. Oliver’s expression grew tense. She dodged this time, but the farther she stepped in, the higher the risk of being shot. But worst of all, a new leg was already sprouting from the severed segment.
“Of course it regenerates…,” Oliver muttered. “And because it was designed for combat, it regenerates quickly, too.”
“If it can’t be destabilized, then the risk isn’t worth the reward. Avoid aiming for the legs, Nanao,” Chela called.
“Understood. So this is the trial-and-error method, eh?”
Higher risks didn’t necessarily come with higher rewards. Having personally experienced this and learned from her mistake, the Azian girl raised her sword again. The chimera’s attention was still on her, as if looking for revenge for its severed leg. Oliver and Chela took this as their opening.
“Flamma!”
“Frigus!”
Spells of fire and ice—reading their opponent’s movements, they aimed the opposite-element spells at the same spot, one after the other. The chimera’s exoskeleton burned, then instantly froze. Immediately, they followed up with another spell simultaneously.
““Fragor!””
This time, they cast an explosion spell on the previously damaged area, and amid the blasts, they heard a dry, cracking sound. They swallowed and looked up—a section of the exoskeleton was missing, like a broken piece of pottery, revealing a yellow internal organ.
“We broke it! Weakening the exoskeleton with the temperature worked!” cried Chela.
“Blast it with magic before it can recover! Tonitrus! ”
The pair quickly struck again. But after two hits, the chimera had learned, and it sharply swung its body to avoid the blow. Their spells hit a solid piece of exoskeleton and fizzled. At the same time, a scythe cleaved toward them, definitely capable of cutting them in half. They wisely jumped backward to dodge.
“It’s protecting the damaged area…!”
“But it can’t recover the exoskeleton as quickly! If we crack more of in its armor, we can do this!” Chela replied, putting a positive spin on the situation. She resumed casting, and Oliver cast in tandem without missing a beat.
Miligan watched the battle unfold from a nearby branch.
“…Yes. Yes. Good—very good,” she muttered delightedly as the three underclassmen darted about. Their first battle with a chimera was far exceeding her expectations.
“Thanks to Nanao drawing its attacks, Oliver and Chela can experiment much more. And their decision to remove the chimera’s exoskeleton first after observing its movements was totally correct. Not to mention how quickly they stopped aiming for the legs after discovering the risk wasn’t worth it.”
Her smile deepened. Compared to when they’d first fought, the Azian girl’s movements were sharper, and the boy had much improved. Chela didn’t disappoint, either. They were still quite inexperienced, but they had improved remarkably.
“I’m very impressed that after only one lesson, you’ve come this far. Your adaptability is remarkable. But I wonder if you realize—the moment you see victory in a battle with an unknown opponent is also the most dangerous.”
The fighting continued for over ten minutes. As the last of Oliver’s toolplant walls fell, the battle entered its final phase.
“It just won’t die! We’ve blasted its guts more than ten times, and it’s still kicking…!”
“No, it’s definitely working!” Oliver shouted back to Chela. “The chimera’s shooting a lot fewer needles. Time for the final blow!”
Seeing that their opponent was out of ammo, Oliver made the decision to finish it off. The needles were created within the chimera’s body, so it couldn’t possibly have an infinite stock. Not only had it already used tons of them in their battle, but it had probably wasted more during its fight with the demon ape.
There were at least ten or so holes in the chimera’s exoskeleton, and its movements were slowing thanks to the internal damage dealt by Oliver’s and Chela’s spells. It was the perfect opportunity to finish it, Oliver was sure, as he barked orders to the girls.
“I’ll distract it from the front! You two circle around to the sides!”
“Got it!”
“Understood!”
Oliver took Nanao’s place in front of the chimera. The injured beast bellowed, and the girls attacked together from the sides.
“Fragor!”
“Haaaaah!”
Chela’s explosion spell was deafening; Nanao decided to attack the chimera’s legs again. Without its needles, the chimera was forced to swipe at its enemies with its scythes. They just barely dodged—just as Oliver dashed right in its face.
“Brogoroccio.”
He scattered the seeds from his left hand and chanted a spell. At first, nothing happened. The chimera quickly noticed him and swung its head down straight at him. All out of needles and its arms preoccupied, its only choice was to attack the prey under its nose with its mandibles. Oliver activated Grave Step underneath his feet, shooting backward and dodging the attack by a hair.
“Hissss?!”
Toolplants shot up from both sides simultaneously, locking the chimera’s head in place. Oliver’s delayed cast meant the spell took a while to activate. Unable to move, the chimera’s defenseless upper body was exposed to Oliver. From the very beginning, he’d suspected that based on the chimera’s template body, the location of its supraesophageal ganglion—the core of its life functions—had to be…
“Here!”
He slipped into the gap between the chimera’s head and the ground, glaring at his enemy’s weak spot right before his eyes. It was almost over. He quickly raised his athame.
“—!”
The next moment, just as he was about to plunge in his blade, a bundle of needles appeared as if to mock his attempt.
The all-too-familiar sound of high-pressure gas. That was all Miligan needed to understand what had just happened.
“Aw, and so close, too. He took it head-on after all.”
With a sigh, she drew her athame and jumped off the branch from which she’d been observing. The battle had been so fantastic up to that point that she couldn’t help but be terribly disappointed in her juniors’ failure to finish the job.
“But I don’t blame him. It’s a dirty trick; Ophelia always designs her chimeras with the assumption that their weak points will be discovered… Try not to die immediately, Oliver. I’ll be right there to save you—”
But Miligan stopped ten yards short of joining the fray. What she saw made not only her human eye but even her basilisk eye as well open wide in surprise.
“…Ha-ha. You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“I predicted that, too.”
Oliver taunted his foe as he wielded a chunk of its exoskeleton in his left hand as a shield, blocking the chimera’s final surprise attack. He’d predicted this from the middle of the battle, when he’d carved off a chunk of the leg Nanao had severed and snuck it under his robe. Pieces removed from the chimera’s body deteriorated quickly, but he could keep it fresh with spatial magic. There was no guarantee the small shield would block all the needles, but at the very least, he’d bet on it protecting his vital organs.
“HISSSSSSSSS!”
The chimera howled as if it knew the end was near. Its final trap disarmed, the creature had no means of fighting back anymore.
“Frigus!”
Oliver plunged his athame into the beast all the way up to the blade’s guard and cast the spell, intending to put an end to things once and for all. Freezing energy rushed from the tip of the athame into the chimera’s body, freezing in a matter of seconds the organs that controlled its life functions. The light flickered out of the chimera’s eyes. Oliver jumped back just as its giant body collapsed limply.
“…Is it…dead?” Chela asked, witnessing victory but still unwilling to put down her sword. Oliver looked at the corpse for a few seconds, then cast another spell in the same spot for good measure.
“Yeah, it’s dead,” he replied with a confident nod. “I froze and destroyed its ganglion. It’s totally dead.”
The tension in his body released, and all at once, Oliver felt incredibly heavy. Nanao rushed at him excitedly, completely unaffected.
“Excellent work, Oliver!”
“Same to you, Nanao.”
They bumped their right arms together. Finally, reality washed over Oliver.
“And you too, Chel— Ahh?!”
“Hrm?!”
Oliver and Nanao turned to include their friend, but they were in for a big surprise: She flung herself at them, squeezing their bodies together in an embrace.
“…We won…! We defeated it! The three of us defeated that terrible chimera!”
Her voice was shaking with elation. They basked in the joy of victory as Miligan walked over, clapping.
“Congratulations on your first victory. For your first time, I’m quite impressed. I could barely pick my jaw up off the ground.”
“Ms. Miligan…”
“Honestly, I would’ve given you a passing grade just for ripping off the chimera’s exoskeleton and exhausting it. If Nanao had tried to unleash her special technique or Chela had been forced to use her elf form, I would’ve stepped in… But this? Looking back on it, I know there was never a chance for me to help. I just had to sit there, spinning my wheels.”
She sounded disappointed, but her lips were unmistakably curved into a smile. She was simply glad to see her juniors outdoing her expectations.
“Now, shall we keep moving? It seems your adventure doesn’t end here.”
Miligan took the lead again, praising the trio’s growth. And with newfound confidence in their hearts, the three first-years followed.
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